Crank-case heater



April 1, 1930. T, HANNEGAN 1,752,594

CRANK CASE HEATER Filed April 18, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l gwuanto'o Thmncw Rfi'amwyan,

April L 1930. T. P. HANNEGAN 1,752,594

CRANK CASE HEATER 4 Filed April 18, 1929 2 She etS- Sheet 2 Thom ow I Ham wgcuv Maw W may Patented Apr. 1, 1930 UNITED STATES THOMAS P. HANNEGAN, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA CRANK-CASE HEATER Application filed April 18,

The present invention relates to an oil temperature controlling device for a water cooled motor.

An object of the present invention is to mount a water-tight chamber in the crank case of an internal combustion motor to be immersed in the oil therein, said chamber being connected to the water cooling system of said motor.

A further object is to control the oil temperature of a water cooled internal combustion motor by a chamber immersed in the oil in the crank case thereof and connected to the water cooling system of said motor, and having electrically energized heating means immersed in the water contained in said chamber.

. In order to attain these objects, there is provided, in accordance with one feature of the invention, a water tight container mounted within thecrank case of a water cooled internal combustion motor and having a pair of tubes in open communication therewith, said tubes passing through the wall of the crank case and being connected to the water cooling system of said motor so as to pass a continuous stream of water through said container during the operation of said motor. An electrically energized heating element is mounted within the container and is connected to a pair of conductors which are passed through the crank case in a hermetically sealed conduit.

These and other features of the invention will be more fully brought out in the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1, is a view in side elevation of a water cooled internal combustion motor with 0 a device embodying the present'invention installed therein.

Figure 2, is a view in side elevation of the device, with a portion of the water container broken away to show the method of mounting the electrical heating element therein.

Figure 3, is a plan view of the device shown in Figure 2, with a portion broken away to show thetube containing the electrical heat ing element mounted in the container. Figure 4, is a'sectional plan view of a dif- 1929. Serial No. 356,157.

ferent type of heating element than that shown in Figure 3; and

Figure 5, is an end view of the device shown in Figure 4, with a portion broken away to show the method of enclosing the heating element.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and

- considering first the type which is shown in Figures 2 and 3, a container 1 is formed of metal to comprise a hermetically sealed chamber to which threaded outlets 2 and 3 are connected to be in open communication with the interior thereof.

A third outlet 1 is mounted between the outlets 2 and 3, to the inner end of which is conwhich it is mounted. No novelty is claimed for the heating element itself or the porcelain beads in connection therewith, since this is a well-known method of mounting a heating element in a tube. The two ends of the heating element 6 are brought out through the outlet 4 and are connected to brass inserts, not shown, which are mounted in a water tight insulating member inserted in the end of the tube 4 to hermetically seal this tube. A plug 8 having a pair of prongs 9 and 10 thereon is adapted to engage with the brass inserts in the tube 4 to form an electrical contact with said inserts. nected electrical conductors which are conveyed through a suitable casing 11, such as flexible metal tubing, to an outlet box 12, which may be mounted at any desired point in the structure of the automobile, and is here shown as mounted on the instrument panel. In one method of mounting the device, three holes are drilled in the crank case wall to receive the three outlets 2, 3, and 4. Gaskets are then placed over the outlets and nuts 1 2 To the prongs 9 and 10 are conare threaded onto the outlets and drawn down to force the gaskets into close engagement with the crank case wall to'form a water and oil tight seal therewith.

Water tubes 15and 16 are connected to the threaded outlets 2 and 3 as by means of pipe couplings 17 and 18. A drain cook 19 is connected to the'coupling 18 to drain the water from the container and connecting tubes. The tube 15 may be connected to the inlet side of the water pump'QO as at 21,-while-the other tube 16 is preferably connected intothe water jacket of the motor A near the upper end thereof. In this manner the hottest water from the top of the water jacket is drawn-downwardlythrough thetube 16 into the container 1 and thence through the tube 15 to the'i'nlet sideof the pump 20.

' A. modified form of heating element is shown in Figures 4* and 5.- heating element comprises a flat ribbon 22 of resistance material Wound about a-fiat member '23 of electrical and he'atresisting material such as mica or porcelain. The two ends of the conductor are carried through an outlet'simil'ar to the outlet 4 in Figure 3 and r are connectedto brass inserts in an insula- 1 ofwater about the heating element container.

In operating the device, considering that it IS installed 1n a crank case as hereinbefore described and that it is desired to warm the oil in the crank case and the water in the of electrical energy such as a house lighting circuit. This energizesthe heating-element 6' or '22, depending upon the type of heating element which is installed therein, and'thisin turn heats the water in the container 1.

The container being immersed'inthe oil in the crank case in turn heatssaid oil, while aslight circulationof water is caused through the tubes" 15 and 16, due to the greater head of water in the tube '16.

By leaving the-currenton for a length of time which is determined by the-temperature of the oil in-themotor a-nd' the heating capacity of the 'heating'element so asto bring the oil inthecrank case to a desired ftem that extensivedamageis-bften caused to motorsby operating them in cold weather: due

This type of to the excessive friction caused when no oil circulation is provided.

Even when the element is not energized so as to pre-heat the oil, before starting the motor, the water in the circulating system heats much more rapidly than the oil in the crank case, owing to the fact that the water surrounds the explosion chambers where the heat of combustion is generated. Thus, when started cold, the water in the circulating system is soon -heated,--and-,--as this water is circulated through the container 1, this water in turn heats the oil and brings it to a fluid 7 condition much more rapidly than when the present device is not used.

T'nsummer when theoil m ay have ate ndency to overheat, the water'in theilcirculating system, being cooler than the oil will/act as a cooling'medium' and-therebyr reventexthree outlets 2, 3. and 1, a single'hole: large enough to admit the entire container-1 may:

be drilled in the side of t'he crank-.caseand a pair of plates, such as the platey25, shown in Figure '1, may be mounted one within the crank case and one on theoutside'of the crank case, togrip the crankcase walltherebetween. Suitable gaskets may be provided in a well known manner to form a water and oil tight seal between the plate and. the crankcase.

Iclaimr 1 '1. Ad'evice of the character described, comprising a container mountedin the crankcase of an internal combustion motor, a pairof water outlets from said. container passing through the wall of said crank case, sealing means surrounding said outlets and engaging the crank case wall to form a'rwaterand oil tight seal therewith, anda. pair-oftubes from said outlets connected'to the water circula'tingsystem of said motor.

2. A device of the. character described, comprising a container mounted in the crank case of an internal combustion motor, a pair of water outlets from said EcQntainerpassing through the wall of saidcrank case, sealing means surrounding said outletsvand. engaging the crank case. wall to. form *wateriand oil tight seal therewith, a pair cfitubesvfrom said outlets connected: to the water: circulating 'system of said: motonan. eleritricakheating element mounted .in. said container, and

comprising a water compartment .inountedin the crankcase of a water cooled internalcombustion motor, a pair" of waterztoutlets from said compartment and: waterieondnction means: connecting:saidtcompartmcnt to the cooling esystenr of SBJ'lfd..mQtOITL :4; A deyiceofthe; haracteridescribeiiaom-- ce'ssive overheating of ltheioi l. ant help. it. to:

prising a Water tight compartment mounted in the crank case of a Water cooled internal combustion motor, a second Water tight compartment mounted internally of said first compartment and having an electrical heating element therein, Water conducting means connecting said first compartment to the cooling system of said motor, and conductors connected to said electrical heating element and adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

THOMAS P. HANNEGAN. 

